30 Years…Young?
From a deep sleep, through and through I woke on my boat surrounded by blue! Ripe papaya, a paddle at my favorite wave The ocean kindly gave and gave Then a pack on my back, friend beside found a trail to the top where sacred flowers reside Not screwdrivers, sandpaper, paint or fiberglass, Just wild […]
Oh Lord, Won’t You Buy Me a Mercedes-Benz
On the evening of the 27th, I was FINALLY ready to leave the dock. The last two weeks in the boatyard marina had driven me to the brink of boat hatred. It seemed no matter how hard I worked to wrap up the last projects, I found new things broken or needing attention. The prop […]
Ode to the Boatyard
Swell was finally set afloat, leak-free!!, by my crew of boatyard friends, ending an era I won’t soon forget. 11 months in total spent there since August of 2008!? In the wake of my sea freedom, I got inspired to write a poem about the place that brought me so many character-building experiences and life-long […]
And While I’m at it….
A zillion other projects at once that all finally came together in the end…
What’s been cooking in the galley…
I took advantage of the yard time while waiting for the new tube to arrive, to make some improvements to Swell’s galley. Have a look…
Footloose with the Hang-Out Gang
With the tube on the way and an expert installer ready to help, I fell into an easier rhythm in the V.I.P. yard. Between work on my book and other Swell ‘life-enhancement’ projects, I tried not to resist my situation and enjoy the good around me. I greased winches, worked with Olivier to flatten the […]
Henoa, Polynesian Gentleman
“Leeeeeeez!!” I heard from behind me as I wandered back toward Swell at the end of a long day in the yard. Little Henoa came running over with an icy cold pineapple juice in hand. Dirt was smeared across his left arm and sweat dribbled down his cheek. I imagined how fun life must be […]
IN THE RED
My tanned feet stood out against the bright red plastic of the channel marker on which I stood. The ocean flooded past like a river. I gripped the bobbing post with one hand while encouraging the Tahitian man who was struggling to paddle the final 20 feet against the current with the other. He was […]
Fred, Fin, and Doug…
With the tube removed, there was no more time to waste. I had to find someone to help me do the fiberglass work. I’d conceded to the realization that it was NOT going to be Laurent. It was beyond me why he didn’t want to do the job, but that didn’t matter anymore. I didn’t […]
